Tiffara Steward Named 2009 Recipient of V Foundation Comeback Award

Cary, N.C. – Farmingdale State College's
women's basketball junior guard Tiffara Steward has been named the
recipient of the ninth annual V Foundation Comeback Award, given
annually by The V Foundation for Cancer Research in collaboration
with ESPN. ESPN will make the announcement during their telecast of
the NIT semi-finals on Tuesday night. The award will be presented
to Steward later this year at the Jimmy V New York City Basketball
Dinner.

A junior starting point guard on the Farmingdale State College
women’s basketball team, Steward stands at only
4’6”, but her short stature hasn’t been her
biggest obstacle. She was born three months premature (May 12,
1988) weighing only 2 ½ pounds and was eight inches long.
After undergoing six surgeries by the time she was three years old,
Steward still battles multiple permanent disabilities. She is blind
in her right eye, as she was born without a cornea, and has over
50% hearing loss in both ears. She has a leg discrepancy, and also
battles severe scoliosis. Her spine, to date, is still not
completely fused. This was all unknown to many of her teammates,
the coaches and administration until recently. She received major
minutes off the bench her freshman and sophomore years before
earning the starting spot this season.

“I would like to thank the committee for selecting me,
because all the other finalists were as worthy as I was for this
prestigious award,” said Steward. “The V Foundation
does great things for cancer research which makes this more
important, as cancer has affected my family many times. My
grandfather passed away after a long and courageous battle with
lung cancer, my grandmother lives on today as a 14-year breast
cancer survivor, my other grandmother survived a battle with colon
cancer and my mom is a survivor of cervical cancer. Through their
hope and fight, they’ve taught me that nothing can stop you,
unless you let it overcome you.”

“I am humbled to receive an award given in memory of Coach
Valvano,” she continued. “I believe, like Coach V, that
one should never give up, no matter what disabilities or hardships
you are faced with. Your goals may be a little more difficult to
achieve, but if you try and try again, you can accomplish anything
that you set your mind to,” she concluded.

The V Foundation Comeback Award is open to men and women
collegiate basketball student-athletes in all NCAA divisions. It is
awarded to an individual or a team who has accomplished a personal
triumph in the face of true adversity, be it in health, life or
moral dilemma. The award is presented in memory of Jim Valvano, the
late basketball coach and ESPN commentator, whose personal battle
with cancer inspired the creation of The V Foundation. In his
memorable speech at ESPN’s inaugural ESPY Awards announcing
the creation of The V Foundation, Valvano’s
“Don’t Give Up… Don’t Ever Give
Up!”® motto created a legacy from which the Comeback
Award has been created.

“Tiffara is very deserving of this award. She stands for all
that is good in college athletics. She is an inspiration to her
teammates and I can’t think of a more appropriate individual
to be honored,” said Chris Mooney, Farmingdale State’s
head women’s basketball coach.

“It is with great pleasure that we honor Tiffara Steward
with the 2009 V Foundation Comeback Award,“ said V Foundation
CEO Nick Valvano. “My brother Jim was a great fan of
women’s basketball, so he would be doubly pleased that the
award created in his memory be given to Tiffara. Her comeback
battle has been a lifelong display of sheer courage and
determination. She embodies a never give up spirit every day of her
life. We are proud to welcome her to the list of incredible young
men and women who have received this award before her.”

Steward was selected from a group of 12 finalists who were
nominated by their athletic departments. The recipient was chosen
by a committee of members of The V Foundation Board of Directors.
The other 2009 finalists were: Suzanne Albert, Felician College;
Jermaine Bishop, Northern Arizona University; Kelvin Davis, San
Diego State University; Joe Ford, University of the Pacific; Jerika
Jenkins, Hampton University; Brooke Johnson, Western Carolina
University; Cait McMahan, University of Tennessee; Ole Miss
Men’s Basketball Team, University of Mississippi; Eleia
Roddy, University of Kentucky; Dana Pernell Smith II, Longwood
University; Azania Stewart, University of Florida.

The V Foundation for
Cancer Research
The V Foundation for Cancer Research was founded in 1993 by ESPN
and the late Jim Valvano, legendary North Carolina State basketball
coach and ESPN commentator. Since 1993, The Foundation has raised
more than $80 million to fund cancer research grants nationwide. It
awards 100 percent of all new direct cash donations and net
proceeds of events directly to cancer research and related
programs. The Foundation, which has received six consecutive top
4-star ratings from Charity Navigator, awards grants through a
competitive awards process strictly supervised by a Scientific
Advisory Board. For more information on The V Foundation or to make
a donation, please visit www.jimmyv.org.

Team ESPN
Team ESPN encompasses ESPN’s multi-faceted corporate
outreach programs including volunteerism, corporate giving and
cause marketing, while utilizing its diverse media assets. Through
Team ESPN, ESPN, its employees, and its fans work together to make
a difference in our world and the communities in which we live.
Team ESPN. . .Fans Helping Fans. www.teamespn.com.